Peerson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Peerson is one of the names carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest in 1066. It is based on the French given name Pierre, which is equivalent to the English Peter as in son of Peter or Pierre.1 2 3
Early Origins of the Peerson family
The surname Peerson was first found in Berwickshire where the name was derived as "son of Pier." Walter Pierson of Berwickshire rendered homage to King Edward I of England on his brief conquest of Scotland in 1296. 4 However, some of the family were found at early times in Lancashire, specifically at the township of Shevington where "Crook Hall was the seat of the Pearsons." 5
In Somerset, early rolls there listed Walter Peressone and Richard Peresone, both 1 Edward III, (during the first year of King Edward III's reign.) 6
In Yorkshire, the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls from 1379 included: Robertus Perisson. 7
Early History of the Peerson family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Peerson research. Another 213 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1369, 1472, 1506, 1529, 1537, 1540, 1541, 1542, 1544, 1545, 1567, 1587, 1590, 1592, 1594, 1604, 1612, 1613, 1628, 1634, 1642, 1647, 1648, 1650, 1651, 1657, 1662, 1665, 1667, 1670, 1677, 1686, 1720 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Peerson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Peerson Spelling Variations
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence in the eras before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate regularly changed the spellings of their names as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Peerson have been found, including Pearson, Peerson, Pierson, Peirson and others.
Early Notables of the Peerson family
Outstanding amongst the family at this time was
- Andrew Peerson or Pierson (d. 1594), an English divine, Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. He "graduated B.A. from Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, in 1540-1541 or 1542, and M.A. in 1544 o...
- Martin Peerson, Pierson or Pearson (1590-1651), was an English musical composer from March, Cambridgeshire. "He graduated Mus. Bac. from Lincoln College, Oxford, in 1613. Fulke Greville, first lord Br...
Migration of the Peerson family to Ireland
Some of the Peerson family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Peerson migration to the United States +
For many English families, the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. For such families, the shores of Ireland, Australia, and the New World beckoned. They left their homeland at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. Many arrived after the long voyage sick, starving, and without a penny. But even those were greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. Numerous English settlers who arrived in the United States and Canada at this time went on to make important contributions to the developing cultures of those countries. Many of those families went on to make significant contributions to the rapidly developing colonies in which they settled. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Peerson were among those contributors:
Peerson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
- Thomas Peerson, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1683 8
Peerson Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- Cleng Peerson, who arrived in New York in 1824 8
- Kleng Peerson, who arrived in New York, NY in 1825 8
- Carrie Peerson, who landed in New York in 1825 8
- Samuel Peerson, who landed in America in 1836 8
Peerson migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Peerson Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
- James Peerson, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1821
Peerson migration to Australia +
Emigration to
Australia followed the
First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:
Peerson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
- Thomas Peerson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "British Sovereign" in 1847 9
- Louisa Peerson, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "British Sovereign" in 1847 9
Citations +
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Sims, Clifford Stanley The Origin and Signification of Scottish Surnames. 1862. Print.
- Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
- Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) BRITISH SOVEREIGN 1847. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1847BritishSovereign.htm